The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-08-25
DrATH oFA.R NEwCO1TB.

The sad intelligence of the death of
Abner B. Newcomb, editor of the En-
PoRIA NEWS, was conveyed to me Thurs
day evening by letter written by our
mutual friend, James j. Brooks, chief
of the secret service of the United
States treasury department. The sor-
rowful tidings came with greater force
and filed my breast with a deeper
pang because of its suddenness. Al
though in constant communication
with Mr.. Newcomb, he had never aIlu-
ded to his failing health. Courageous
and determined to do his duty in the
public service, he worked up to the
very last day of his life, and it may be
said that he died in the harness, stand
ing. He had rendered valuable service
to the government from the breaking
out of the rebellion up to the day of
his death. He never betrayed his Off
cial trust or shrunk from duty. Dur
ing the long years that 1 have known
him and while he served Immediately
under my directions he proved a
staunch and worthy friend. Friend
ship with him meant answering fidel-
ity and common cause, not meaning
less and lightly expressed word, as is
oft times the case, but a bond that
was absolutely integral and inseper-
able. That his fidelity, his ability
and his integrity were appreciated by
his superior officers through successive
administrations during the last quarter
of century there can be no question,
as he retained his place.
Mr.. Newcomb was native of BOs-
ton. Massachusetts, born in 1888. His
parents were refined and cultivated
people, who gave him liberal educa-
ton. He developed at an early age a
taste for newspaper life, and was for
many years one of the most popular
sketch writer's contributing to the BoS-
ton Press. He was, ut one time, ed
itor of the Rockford Republican at
Rockford, Illinois. Afterwards he was
employed upon the New York World.
While thus engaged he wrote the nota-
BILE article under the head of Gel No.
T. nlllCll dlOuoCu Va
the entire metropolis, from the manner
in which it attacked and exposed the
unrighteous system of arrests made I'M
der the orders of the provost marshal of
the district of New York. This article
was extensively copied and commented
on, both in this country and Europe,
under an additional caption of "The
American Bastile.''
Mr.. Newcomb entered the United
States service in 1861, under Major
General John a. Dix. 1t was his spe
cial duty to guard against the machina-
lions of inside traitors to the nation s
veal. If book could be written Civ
ing detailed account of the services
rendered by Mr.. Newcomb during the
war, it would be one of the most inter
esting works ever put in print. In
1870, while in my employ, he discovered
conspiracy to defraud the United
States treasury, by means of fraudu
lent army claims, to the enormous sun
of S400, 900. There were thirteen per
sons involved in this plot, every one O.
whom was arrested and turned over t.
the United States courts. Mr.. New
comb was modest man, of frank ad
dress and goodly mein, and possesses
of rare versatility of talent useful il
the field in which he operated. ThosI
who knew him best loved him most
His enemies were pretty generall
made up of those whom he had occa
sion to chastise. No honest man eve
had cause to regret his acquaintance.
| Among those to mourn his loss h
leaves wife and daughter in Wash
ington and a niece in this city.
H. C.. WHITLEY.